Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-24
MY FELLOW TRAVELLER.

''Do You mind letting me look at your
ring"
started on hearing these words-first,
because they were SPOKEN in a coupe that
was running between Paris and Tours.
where did not expect To hear an English
voice. secondly. because felt somewhat
alarmed 10 be travelling alone with "A man
who was thus manifestin2 his interest in
diamond ring which had been vain and
foolish enough to buy the day before in
Paris and was nov wearing. A hurried
glance somewhat Assured me; so held
out my hand 10 him, and then something
in the way in which he examined my re
cent purchase told me that l had come
across. not a robbcr, but diamond mcr-
chant. He was slightly built and had
dark hair and whis;lers. His features
were well cut and his eyes were blue. l
think he was older than he looked He
was probably 80 or 81. but might have
passed for nearly ten years less.
May ask what You gave for it?' he
impaired after brief scrutiny.
named the sum.
You were DONE he replied: lyon
ought not 10 have paid more than half
that price. The stone is faulty, but has
you havo been taken in. Well. l don't
suppose there is one person out If thou
sand who will discover that il Is not
nearly 50 good rs it looks"
That was certainly some consolation.
"You are in the trade haZaried.
~ was" replied my fellow traveller;
but l met with an adventure that upset
me for time and was the cause of my
sytt ir.Fv ht,s i hnh
competence for bachelor with ineXpen-
sive tastes, but still it was against the
grain for me to leave of trading and lead
an inactive life Indeed, but for certain
nervous scruples that have taken posses
sion of ME, think l would begin dealing
again tomorrow. II you would care to
hear the event to which refer, and which
has effected me so greatly, will tell ii to
you. There is nothing else to he done,
and it will help TO pass the time"
expressed my desire to hear his story:
but had coniectured what he was about
hold his peace.
The reader. however, need have no sim
ilar coIapunct:on about perusing the mar
rative, rs it was the mans wistful eyes
and pathetic expression, and more still,
him, that have caused his tale TO haunt
me.
If ever anyone" he began. had
right to consider himself cosmopolitan, l
have: for my father was of Jewish eX-
traction, and my mother was French;
was born and educated in New York, and
from my youth have traded in London
and Paris. inherited from my father "A
s..ff. fol sA Ssa with np,l
that Of course was n great matter. was
pretty cute in dealing, and never specu-
lated, SO that, although the process was
slow, l gradually acquired a moderate
fortune. The first big haul made was
when diamonds were first discovered at
the Cape Invent out, purchased largely,
snd did several good strokes of business.
After that went TO India, where rs a
buyer l entered into the most extensive
/ had ever made in my life.
l then returned to Europe bringing the
stones with me. At SUeE / fell in with
was acquainted. He too had been in the
east, and was now going to Venice,
TO buy pearls that were being sold
there. l agreed to accompany him,
rs thought might be able To do some
.
for Paris, it was not much out Of my |
road. We arrived in Venice together, |
where my friend went to stay with re
lation, ard to hotel. Next evening ] |
called on him, and he agreed 10 return |
with me to the hotel and have supper |
with me- l had somewhere else to go, |
and il was arranged that on my return he |
would join me and accompany me back |
A.. h.. tata t.t WI i nI
approached the rendezvous, l saw my |
friend standing close 10 the water, at the |
end Of a narrow passage which led from |
the house where he was staying. 1t was |
dusk, but as we approached, could see a |
man stealing up behind him, and, ere |
could raise my voice in warning, my |
friend was struck down. Then his assail- |
ant. STOPPING over the motioniess body, |
began 10 rifle it, The two gondoliers who |
had also witnessed the attack, melted by |
ne, urged the boat forward with the |
utmost speed, and in q few seconds we |
were upon the scene. As l sprang from |
he boat the assassin looked up and |
seemed TO hesitate whether TO attack me,
but seeing the two men coming To aid me. |
be fled ere had time 10 reach him, and |
> on disappeared My friend was not |
badly stabbed between the shoulders. |
The robber had evidently consid- |
cred his watch, chain and purse |
IS objects too trivial for plumber. !
and had not had time TO reach leather |
bag containin. some very valuable pearls |
md other gems, which was secured in an |
inside pocket and had clearly been the |
motive Of the :-ime.
Il had only intended TO remain a few |
iays and the night before my departure | |
eft the hotel for little. locking the door |
IF my room rs usual. The diamonds Were |
n a leather case at the bottom of a strong |
DON. which was full Of clothes and other |
property of little value. | thought the !
diamonds safer there than anywhere else, |
Is no one. not even my friend. knew Of |
heir existence ] was absent not more |
han an hour and half. and on my re |
urn went TO my room with the intcntiOn |
# going 10 bed. No sooner had l tn |
ocked my door than a strange and indie
Unable dread took possession of me. ! saw |
rot hing and heard nothing. bIt ] detected |
slight and peculiar odor d, some species |
# tobacco. or it may have lie IN opium. | |
10 not smoke, and the conviction Instant |
Y flashed upon me that during my alb |
,cnce some one had entered my room, !
md. for aught ! knew, might still lie |
here. My sense of smell is keen, but the |
,flluvia could barely lie perceived, and |
4 \ <,1,